Socket for fluorescent lamps and the like



Dec. 22, 1953 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 FIG.

H. KERSHAW 2,663,852

SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND THE LIKE V 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 33 3| 32' 3o 32 a l 33 :;s

f U 130 I I 1' 5 a i E 60 49 55 0 3743 L 49 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR Dec. 22, 1953 KERSHAW 2,663,852

SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1951 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 1 I e7 69 F 67 6 l 87 INVENTOR HENRY KERSHAW ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1953 H. KERSHAW 2,663,852

SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I 67 F s19. RG24. FIG. 23.

INVENTOR HENRY KERsHAw ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22,}953

sooner FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND THE LIKE a Henry Kershaw, B elleville, J.

c. Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,316

J, My invention relates to sockets for tube lamps,

such as fluorescent lamps, and switches used in connection with such lamps.

An important object of the invention is to provide a socket of the above-mentioned character having contacts which" possess a high degree of resiliency to eifect a proper electrical contact with the terminals of the lamp or the like and will positively hold the terminals against accidental displacement so that the lamp cannot improperly drop. g

A further object of-the invention is to provide a socket of the above-mentioned character having contacts 'providedwith means vfor producing a high resilient force adjacent to the free ends of the contacts, to efiect a proper electrical contact with the terminals of the lamp or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide contacts having two-layer terminal engaging heads, for increasing the strength of the heads, which are resilient, so thatsuch heads will render increased resistance to the removal of the terminals; thereby preventing improper removal of the lamp or the like. v I

A further object of the invention is to arrange the binding posts of the assembled lamp socket and switch socket at the bases of the sockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for simplifying the attachment of the wires to the binding posts of the sockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide, means for economizing in theuse of expensive metals in forming the contacts. I

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of the casing or housing of the socket, re-inforcing the same, and thereby increasing its strength; and durability. v

Other objects and advantages'of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout same,

Figure 1 is a plan viewrof a fluorescent lamp assembly showing my improved sockets in place therein, 7

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lamp socket, showing the terminal plates position, v

Figure is an outert'side elevation of the housing-included in the Iampsocket, 1

Figure 5is Va'pla'n-view of the socket, shown in- Figure 3, with the terminal plates removed, I

Figur 6 i n edge eleva io of tees-ems P t broken away,

' 2 Claims. (01. 339-53) Figure '7 is an inner side elevationof the socket,

Figure '8 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Figure 8a is a vertical transverse section taken on line 8a-8a of Figure 11,

Figure 8b is an enlarged outer side elevation of the socket, with the cover'removed, showing the relative position of the lamp terminal and contact head and housing'when the terminal is held within the contact head,

Figure '8c is a similar view showing the flexing of the two-layer terminal head upon the removal of the terminal from the head,

Figure 9 is an outer side elevation of the socket, the side cover being removed, and the contacts in the inner position before the terminals are inserted in place,

Figure 10' is a'sim'ilar view, showing the resilient' contacts moved outwardly by the terminals,

" Figure ll'isa longitudinal section taken on line ll-ll of Figure 10, Figure 12'is a vertical section taken on line l2l2 ofFigure 9;

Figure l2a is a horizontal section taken on line I2w-I2a of Figure 9," I Figure 13 is a plan view of the switch socket, the contacts being in place therein, H Figure 14 is an end elevation of thesame,

Figure 15 is a bottom plan view of the switch socket,

Figure 16 is a transverse section taken on line l6 l6 of Figure 13,1 a

Figure 17a isa vertical section takenon line l1a -'l'la of Figure 13, a I I Figure 17 is a plan view of the 'assembled switch socket and lamp socket,

Figure 18 is a front elevation of'the sam Figure 19 is a plan'view of the assembled switch socket and lamp socket, with the coverplate removed, 1 -Figure 20 is a sideelevation'of' the same,

Figure 21 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2,l- -2l of Figure 19, V

Figure 22 is a transverse section taken on line 2222 of Figure 19, a

Figure 23 is a side elevation of a connected resilient contact and terminal plate,

Figure 24 is a vertical section taken on line 24-24o1f Figure 23, j

Figure 25 is a diagrammatic showing the circuit connected with the terminal plates and associated elements, I r I Injth'e drawings; where for the purpose of ill'us tration' is shown a preferred embodimentof my invention, the numeral 25, designates a tube or. fluorescent lamp assembly; comprising" a h'ori zontal support 26 beneath which is arranged a fluorescent lamp 2'! having pairs of terminals or pins 28 at its opposite ends. The pairs of terminals are inserted within and held by sockets 29 which are substantially identical.

Each lamp socket 29 is formed of insulating material such as "Bakelite or other plastics material. Eachlamp socket comprises an upper horizontal casing 3|! which i's re ctafxgialar. This casing is open at'its' top, closed at its inner side, and open at its outer side. The casing 30 is provided in its closed inner side 3! with upper vertical openings or grooves and a deepen tical groove 33 and horizontal grooves 34; Fig ure '7. Formed integral with the horiaontal casing 30 is a depending vertical casing35; arranged beneath the same. The vertical=oasing 35-has an inner closed side 36 which is ofiset outwardly with respect to the side 3|. formed integral with lus 31 and these lugs are integral with the' 'casing" 30'2and' are-"arranged in the bottom of the sam'e'; The" ings =3'lhave tops 38 "andare provided with horizontar-grooves 39 which extend through the tops 38. These grooves 39 have their inner ends closed and theirofiter ends opened. "Extending "longitiidinallywithi'n the casing" '35 and centfallythereofis a vertical weli' 40,formed integral --therewith and integral with the lugs 31 and thein'ner'side 3|. The grooves: 33 and "34 extend-through this-web fll. Theweb 40 projects-abovethe tops"38-but-- has its top H terminating-3 at anwelevation slightly beneaththe top ofthe horizontal casing-33. The web 40 forms recesses-42- within the vertical cas= ing 35'andthelngs 31- form' reduced passages 43 with the web 40 and these lugs have lower-shoul ders 44, arranged at the-bottom ofthe passages 43 The inner sides-36 ofithe -casings'-35 are--pro= vided with curved slots 45 leading into vertical slots 46 -which-;extend-=t ,irough' the-bottom of the casing. The slots 45 of theorising 35 to the left; Figures 2- am} '7;extendelbeltwiseirom thevertical groove 46 so that the terminalg-oppiris I8 s fluere ecetmpzmwih z dthe curved slots 45 and turned clockwise to secure the same ii -place; The-euryedslots Mare-separate and ced and a arr seds ;se e on e qi ext n m state me d gr a h an her 9 5 edsn chr i e rim the'move'ment in one direction of the terminals 23. The slots 45- formed in the-casing 35 to t he right must then itn'd in the eeeeggg direction with relation to the left slots 45 "Th e'islots fi and 46 extend throngh the nine; iace of-the web 40 and thelower end efithe webldhas acy-lindrical head 41 formed integr-altherewith and extending ;horizontallv beyond:the-web 40 mgure-ll= The 'head 414's also integralwitha-Web 48; integral with the lower eiid of th e casirig" 35.

The outer side of the casing 35 isiclosed bya.

cover 4a,--fiaii1g=withiiewmaremar natgewcr the casin 35. whatever-han' jepningil'to receive the head and cover n n te nend; afigiiliir extension 58 extends generally any war;

"contactsi f'b' recess "radially outwardly in the .same direction with the V- shaped head 56. {The head 56 is arranged marine-"closed end ofthe slot 45. The outer layer ef'the head-5,6" is continued in the form of a free extension 59, diverging from the strip 55. The-extension 59 bears against the side wall of the recess 42 and thereby applies the resilient presscre te triesatrip wat 'itgi iree 'eiid whereit is most eiretive. :Tne 'eontaewnsrer'mec sepaa rate from the attaching?plate wfiwhich"may be\ formed-of brass: attaching plate has areddced "extension '-'6 i dependiii'g therefrom and having its -lo wer end bent imam: horizontal projection 62. since-the; plate 50 is formedwider thaw-the extension- H, aiid sincethe contact 'element 54hasth-width-of-the extension 61, a considerable saving in scrap is: provided byniaking the contact 54 separate from the plate 80. The stri-p-55 has tongues -83, stamped therefrom and these tongues-are -inser-ted ;.-throughopenings 64 iormedin the extension-i I= and the tongues are then bent down, whereby asecure *connection and contact is efiected by =thestri-p 54 and the extension 6 I :i hes ;part ga --.be held together by other; means if desired. The: plate; Gil-is provided with a screw threaded-opening 65.

ree e ntaets n are assembled within :the. recesses- 42 arid-the uppe'r ends" dfi the strips. 55 and the e-ictensions 61 are arranged within the passages 43. The: terminal. i' lat'sl 6'0 are disposed within the horizontal easinglaurend rests upon the tops 38 of the lugs 3L'whilethehorizontal prejeetiefie tiii'aig'hfiaith the" lower "shoulde'rsM 6fth 1iig'sl "The 'strii'ns'g55 have a width corr'esfidfidirig to the space "Between the inner side it and cavern anditiie 'e'eiitacts are-thereby held in piaeeagam 't iatefal dispiaeemem. The longitu'di'rjial disiflac :01 tlieeoiitaet's' 54. is preven ed-15y mete nalplatsfifl engagin the tops ertheiugs and tfieho'i iz'ofital. projections 62 engaging berji'a H" fie-shoulders j44. This f pernitsortheeagewise insertion the contacts sa' int" at and spaced I from such" edgeawan. lareitthswns 58'"pro:eet .aercss the cu'rjv' i515anoi henee arer arranged in' the pam-eftrave1-tr t'ne" terminals 28 of the lamp. The terminals 28 are inserted. up througd'the verticar'siet tenth they are at'theintake ends or the curvedsietsiltr-at whicfi'tiine "the lamp is turned uppnitslongitpdinal axisin a cloelnvise direction, rte-terminals attractant the'angue'ci jazaiidnex the resilient 1y. Thisoi tward move ent per re tne terminals 28 ueh-e extensions -=are extensio ,transverse slots 59. strong. The casing has its marginal edge excesses or notches in the V-shaped heads '56. The extension 58 is arranged suificiently close to the wall of the recess 42 so that the twolayer head 55 must be flexed before the pin or terminal enters the notch of the head 56, asstated, and the two-layer head 59 for the same reason must be flexed before the terminal can bemovedout of the notch of the V-shaped head 56. This is important as it provides a safety factor against the pin 28 improperly working out of the notchof the two-layer head.

I will now describe a socket which is similar to the sockets 29 and works ,upcn the same principle and which is used for holding a' thermostatic switch. This switch socket comprises a horizontal housing 96 which is formed of Bakelite or other suitable insulating plastics ma terial. This housing comprises a transverse casing 97- having a bottom 98 provided with This bottom is thick and tending above and below the bottom 93. Arranged within the casing d'I is a web it, integral with the bottom and the marginal edge of the casing. This web I9 has its top surface terminating a short distance inwardly of the top of the marginaledge of the casing. This web has a longitudinal slot II. The casing 91 is prvided with a groove I2 at its inner side and the casing 61 is also provided with a pair of depending lugs I3 upon its bottom projecting below the marginal edge of the casing section 9?, for a purpose to be described. The web it forms recesses Id in the casing section 9?, as shown.

Formed integral with the transverse casing 6'! is a longitudinal casing I5, forming shoulders I6. The casing I has a bottom TI, Figure 21, integral with the bottom 68 and web 19. This bottom is formed integral with a cylindrical socket I8 arranged beneath it and this cylindrical socket is integral with the marginal edge of the longitudinal casing I5 and the bottom 98. The bottom TI has curved concentric slots I9 provided with enlargements 99 at their intake ends. The bottom TI is thin so that it may engage beneath the heads 8| of pins or terminals 82 of a thermostatic switch 83, which is biased closed when cool. This thermostatic switch has a cylindrical casing 83'. The upper end of the cylindrical casing 83 is inserted within the socket I8 and the heads 8! are passed through the enlargements 99 of the curved slots I9 and the casing is then turned clockwise so that the terminals are brought to the closed ends of the slots I9, Figure 19.

Resilient contacts 84 are provided and are mounted in the recesses '54. These contacts comprise resilient metal strips 25 of the same width throughout their entire length and the ends of these metal strips are attached to upstanding flanges 89 formed upon terminal plates 81 having screw-threaded openings 89 formed therein. These terminal plates seat within the recesses I4 and engage behind the shoulders I6 and are held against longitudinal displacement. The strips 85 are bent upon themselves to provide two-layer V-shaped heads 89, and these V-shaped heads have angular extensions 99 at their free ends. The outer layer extends beyond the head 99 and provides an extension 9i bearing against the edge wall of the casing I5. The extensions 9| serve to apply an inward resilient pressure to the spring contacts 84 adjacent to their free ends. The spring contacts 84 have a vertical dimensionequal to that of the 'web I0 and the lateral displacement of the spring contacts and the flanges 86 is prevented by means of a cover-92, inserted within the marginal edge of the casings 61 and 15. This cover is held in the closed position by a pin 93, having a press fit in an opening 94 in the web "I9. This cover rests upon the web I0 and has an opening to receive a bolt 99, as shown.

The socket 29- arranged to the left, Figures 1 and 11, and its casing 35 passes through an opening 36' in the support 26. The horizontal casing 30 is arranged above the support 26 and is clamped to the support 26 by a bolt 91, extending through the vertical slot 33 and engaging a nut 98, arranged within the horizontal slot 34, Figure 11. In connection with the socket 29 to the left, the twoterminal plates 60 have screws or binding posts 99 engaging in the screw-threaded openings 65. The socket 29 to the right, has its casing 35 extending through an opening 36' in the support 26, Figure 20. The switch socket has its trans verse casing 61 mounted upon the top of the transverse casing 30 and the bolt 96 clamps the transverse casings 61 and 30 together and also clamps the casing 30 to the support 26, Figure 21. The bolt 99 passes through the vertical slot 33 and the head of the bolt engages beneath the support 25, as shown. The support 26 has an opening I00 for receiving the casing 83' of the thermostatic switch held within the socket and the end of this thermostaticswitch casing is arranged near or in thermal contact with the glass envelope of the fluorescent lamp to be heated thereby. In connection with the socket 29, to the right, the terminal plate 81, Figure 22, is engaged by a long screw IOI, engaging the terminal plate 69 of the spring contact 54. The lugs I3 project down into the recess 31 to clamp the terminal plate 60 against upward movement. The binding posts or screws 99 and the binding posts or screws 88' engage within screw-threaded openings formed in adjacent terminal plates.

When the socket 29 to the left and the socket 29 to the right are secured in place, as explained, a wire 103, Figures 1 and 25, is passed through the slot 32 and is clamped to one terminal plate 60. A wire I 04 is clamped to the companion terminal plate 60. The wire I04 is clamped to one terminal plate 60 of socket 29 to the right and the com panion terminal plate 60 is connected with one terminal plate 81 of the switch socket by means of the bolt "H. A wire I05 is clamped to the companion terminal plate 81. Wires I93 and I95 lead to the opposite poles of the source of current. Wire I 04 may have a manual switch I 05 connected therein.

When the manual switch is closed, the electrodes 21' of the fluorescent lamp are connected in series, the thermostatic switch being now closed. The electrodes 21' generate the heat which vaporizes the mercury and when this vaporization has been effected, the switch 83 opens, and the circuit is made from one electrode to the other through the mercury vapor, and the lamp then operates in the conventional manner.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A socket for a fluorescent lamp or the like 1. havinga nairrofr'terniinals at -its-end, said-socket having elcngatedsslnts to-receive the "terminals, spring scontactsrwithin the vssocket, at: leastone spring contact FincIudin'g-Ja 'metal strip bent back uponitself T120 providaatwo-layer V-shaped head having an angularly: disposed extension arranged to contact with the wall of' the socket, said V- shaped head forming a recess having its open side face inwardly, the twolayers of the V-shaped head contacting-with each-otherfor increasing the stiffness :ot such head" which must be flexed before the terminal --can' bercmoved therefrom when the angularly'disposed 'extension contacts with the wall-of the socket, the outer'layer of the v-shaped head dieing-continued totormia leaf spring having its free end spaced from themetal stripandarranged tobear-against the wall of the socket "to'force-the V-s'hapedhead inwardly into engagement with'theterminal, and meansto securethe opposite end ofthe strip of each contact in place within the socket.

-2.- A socket for a 'fluorescent lamp or the like having a pairof terminals at its end, said socket having spaced separate-curved concentric slots to receive the terminals and a main slot leading into corresponding ends 'of' the curved slots, the opposite ends of the-curved jslots being closed so that such closed ends serve to limit'the shifting movement of theterminals in one direction in said curved slots-spring, contacts within the socket, each spring contactincluding a metal strip bent-back-upon its'elf to-provide a two-layer V- shapedhead having an angularly disposed free extension arranged to; contact with the wall of .the socket, said-V=shapcd-"headforming a recess 'havlng' its opemside facing-inwardly, the two layers --'of-- the V-shaped head contacting with each other for increasing the-stiffness of such head which head must be, flexed before the terminal can 'be' removed therefrom, the free angularly disposed extension then contacting with the wall *of the socket during the flexing of the V-shaped head, the outer layer of each V-shaped'head being continued to form a leaf spring'having its free end spaced from the metal strip and arranged tor-bear against the wall of the socket toforce the V-shaped head inwardly into-engagement with the terminal, the V-shaped heads being arranged near the closed ends of the curved slots, and means to secure the opposite end of the strip of each contact in place within the socket.

HENRY KFRSI-IAW.

References Cited in the fi le of this patent,

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,037,562 Chirelstein April 14, 1936 2,274,089 OBrien Febz,24, 1942 2,276,829 De Reamer Mar. 17, 1942 2,284,367 Bryant et a1 May 26,1942 2,292,060 De Reamer et al. Aug. 4, 1942 2,356,601 MacCarthy Aug. 22, 1944 2,436,661 Naster Feb. 24, 1948 2,529,122 Zelov Nov. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 577,337 Great Britain May 14, 1946 

